A BIRD'S EYE VIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1918, Page 3

A BIRD'S EYE VIEW.

j (Ki Ora Coo-ee.) j One of the most important duties I allotted to a flying Corps squadron \ is that of aerial reconnaissance, | and certainly it is the most interest- ' ing ; for on long trips, a huge panoramic view of enemy country is ! spread out below aud the trained observer gathers information upon whicn the late of armies often hangs. The training of an observer for this branch of work cannot be efficiently carried out behind the lines, and thus, after learning mapreading, report making and machine guns, the would-be “ Eyes of the Army ” is sent to a service squadron for further instruction in the school of practical experietice, over the lines. From the time of his arrival the real education in the art of aerial observation commences, as, day after day, he crosses the enemy lines as gunner in an escort machine, so that, during occasional spells from sky-gazing for Huns, he may glance earthwards and gain some knowledge of how the laud lies in reference to his maps. The responsibility of protecting a reconnaissance machine is naturally great, consequently glimpses of the ground are not over plentiful, and it is not until cue has done somewhere in the vicinity of 50 hours over the lines that one’s knovvledge of the country is sufficient to justify au order from the Powers that be to do a reconnaissance. Having passed through the initial stages of instruction, I was pleased to receive orders to do a reconnaissance. With the feeling of a man who rises to make his first public speech, I spent the evening before the great day getting my maps in order and the information supplied by previous observers tabulated for easy reference. The day broke clear and bright, with a gentle breeze blowing off the sea; and after au early breakfast, when final instructions were issued to the pilot as .to mv proposed route, we set out. After testing our guns out to sea, with the engine pulling beautifully as if conscious of its reserve of po.ver, we made direct for O lr objective, climbing as we went, and by the time we reached the region of importunate “Archies” we were nt a. height of about 10,000 1 feet. A cloudless azure sky and a crisp ■ air made visibility extremely good. Although I had been over this particular stretch of country a dozen times, and imagined myself thoroughly'* familiar with it, I soon discovered, when I commenced the reconnaissance, what a cursory knowledge I really had. The big towns and railway centres were, of course,'easilv recognised, but with the mud villages, which irom an information point of view are otten vitally important, I found myself all at sea, aud it was only by constant reference to the map that I was able to locate many of them and their, associated camps with any degree of certainty. To the aerial observer everything has its meaning, tents, shelters, marquees, dumps, etc, and in one’s early attempts the main difficulty is to discriminate between them and stones, trees or small huts; whilst the Turk adds to one’s trouble by using every means at his disposal to screen them from observation. Movement on roads and railways, mechanical and horse transport, parks must all be carefully noted, as the volume ot transport, coupled with the number of tents, shelters, dumps, etc, in a certain sector enable a very shrewd estimate of the troops therein to be calculated. After two hours with eyes glued to the ground over the lines, the information collected is considerable, and having completed the circuit it is necessary to write a brief report to drop at Headquarters on the wav home. Writing in a book with carbon sheets when a hundred-mile-an-hour breeze, caused by the whirling propellor, is whistling in and out the cockpit is a mod exasperating job, and probably it is just as well for the moral susceptibilities of the pilot that the roar of the engine renders it impossible for him to hear the remarks one passes. However, the message is at last written, and you tap the pilot on the shoulder; he rapidl} 7 glides to a few hundred feet over Headquarters whilst you attempt to get a bull’s-eye with the Dag. On reaching the aerodrome the 1 worst ordeal has to be faced, as, teeling irritable and dirty after three hours’ flying, one is whirled off lncar to hand in a detailed report to 1 the intelligence staff officer, who, - seated in comfoi table quarters, cross B « examines unmercifully as to what s was seen and not seen.

To au observer doing his first reconnaissance that visit to the brass hat is a perfect nightmare, and, personally, when the interview was over, I heaved a sigh of relief and bolted lor camp as fast as the car could take me, for a wash and change into more seasonable clothing.